This is the one that crystallised the early Jim Carrey to the world. His break-out hit, Ace Ventura contained the antics that would become his signature mugging, but here they were given free reign in the story of the mild-mannered bank clerk who finds and ancient mask in a river.

When he puts it on, the special powers of the mask come alive, bringing the rebellious, boisterous aspects of the personality of the wearer to the surface. Hence we get the whirling dervish who occasionally stops to exclaim 'smmmmmmokin' or 'somebody stop me'.

He uses his newfound powers to get the girl (Diaz in the role that bought her to wide attention) and save the day. Based on the comic strip of the same name, it was going to be a violent horror film before being retooled as a Carrey vehicle.